• Posted byby Lilly
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This colorful turkey craft is such a fun way to turn cheap supplies into something special for fall! All you need are a few inexpensive and common household items including recycled cardboard, painter’s tape, and washable paint. Kids get to tape, paint, peel, and watch their turkey come to life as all of those bright colors and crisp lines are revealed.

It’s also a great fall craft for a wide range of ages. Preschoolers can have fun filling each section with paint without worrying about staying inside the lines, while older kids can get more creative with their color choices, tape patterns, and turkey faces. And peeling off the painter’s tape at the end is easily one of the most satisfying parts!

This easy fall craft is great for kids of all ages! Start with a piece of recycled cardboard and make a simple turkey design with feathers using painters tape. Then let the kids stay busy painting each section to eventually reveal and super colorful craft for Thanksgiving.

Supplies Needed

  • Piece of cardboard (large enough to design with tape)
  • thin painter’s tape
  • variety of washable paint colors
  • paint brush
  • glue stick & construction paper (optional for the face)

Large piece of scrap cardboard and art supplies needed to make turkey art.

Step 1Use scissors or an X-Acto knife to cut a large, flat piece of cardboard for your turkey. Then, use painter’s tape to outline the turkey’s body and feathers. For the turkey’s feathers, we found it easiest to start by placing straight pieces of tape outward from the round body, almost like sun rays. Then, section off each area with smaller pieces of tape to create the individual feather shapes. Little kids may need help with this part!
How to make tape resistant turkey art with kids using painters tape and a large piece of cardboard.
Step 2Now let the painting begin! Fill in each section with a different color, mixing and matching as many bright shades as you’d like. Don’t worry about staying perfectly inside the lines—it’s totally fine to paint right over the painter’s tape. That’s part of the fun! Once the tape is peeled away, you’ll be left with crisp lines separating all of those colorful sections.

Painting a colorful turkey for thanksgiving using a creative tape resistant technique.

Step 3For the turkey’s adorable face, you can either paint it on or cut simple shapes from construction paper for the eyes, beak, and that funny red piece hanging from its beak. Fun fact: it’s called a snood! I had to look that one up. Glue everything into place, and your colorful turkey will suddenly have a whole lot of personality.

Making a cute turkey face using colorful construction paper.

Step 4Once the kids are finished painting, it’s time for the best part—peeling off the tape! Carefully pull away each piece to reveal the clean cardboard lines hiding underneath. This is where a little bit of magic happens and all of those bright, colorful feather sections suddenly come to life. The crisp lines really make all of those fun paint colors pop!

How to make tape resistant turkey art! A fun, easy, and budget friendly fall craft for kids of all ages using cardboard and painter's tape.

Make this easy turkey craft at home, in the classroom, or as a Thanksgiving activity to keep little hands busy during the holiday season. The finished turkey is so bright and cheerful that you’ll definitely want to show it off. Hang it on a wall, prop it up on a shelf, or add it to your Thanksgiving decorations for a homemade piece of Autumn art you can enjoy all season long.

Helpful Tips

  • You can find painter’s tape in a variety of widths on Amazon, including thinner options made specifically for craft projects like this one.
  • Make your cardboard any size you’d like! Go extra large and tape it to the wall for a fun kid-sized canvas, or use poster board to make it even easier.

Tape Resistant Turkey Art is an easy Autumn craft for kids to make at home with cheap supplies including cardboard and painter's tape. A fun fall art project for preschoolers and older kids!

If you like this easy fall craft, check out these Bean Mosaics! There’s something so satisfying about turning a handful of dried beans into colorful works of art.

How to make art with dried beans and cardboard. A fun recycled craft for fall.

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